Several Palestinians suffocate from Israeli army teargas south of Bethlehem

BETHLEHEM: Several Palestinians Thursday evening suffocated from Israeli army teargas in the al-Khader town, south of the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem, according to local sources. They said that the occupation forces stormed the western part of the town, while simultaneously firing barrages of live ammunition and tear gas canisters towards the villagers' houses, causing several to suffocate. Israeli occupation forces frequently raid Palestinian houses almost on a daily basis across the West Bank on the pretext of searching for "wanted" Palestinians, triggering clashes with residents. These raids, which take place also in areas under the full control of the State of Palestine, are conducted with no need for a search warrant, whenever and wherever the military chooses in keeping with its sweeping arbitrary powers. Under Israeli military law army commanders have full executive, legislative and judicial authority over 3 million Palestinians living in the West Bank. Palestinians have no say in how this authority is exercised. Source: Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA